RebelTHON, The University of Mississippi’s nonstop dance party, has become one of Children’s of Mississippi’s biggest supporter.

For the third straight year, the event raised over a quarter of a million dollars, with 2020’s edition raising $252,517 for Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, Mississippi’s only children’s hospital. Last year the event raised over $258,000, and it has raised nearly $1 million since it began in 2013.

Money raised at this year’s event will go toward the construction of the new wing at Batson, which will contain NICU patient rooms, PICU patient rooms, conference rooms and more.

Batson patients and their families from around the state attended this year’s event, which was held at the C.M. “Tad” Smith Coliseum, to share their stories and spend time with Ole Miss students they have grown close to over the years.

Megan Bell was one of those parents who attended. Bell’s daughter, Avery, is a 9-year-old from Pearl who was born with the chromosomal condition Turner’s Syndrome in 2009, and shortly after her birth, a related congenital heart defect was detected. Avery was taken to Batson for heart surgery when she was one week old.

“We have been part of RebelTHON for several years now, and we love it,” Bell said. “For our kids, it’s almost like Christmas; they ask about it all year long.”

The 12-hour dance marathon included programming from Ole Miss Irish Dancers, Hip Hop Rebs, Mississippi Mutts and the Ole Miss football and cheer teams. For more information or to donate, visit rebelthon.org.